Wringer mop



Dec. 10, 1940. w. E. WILLIAMS 2,224,462

WRINGER MOP Filed Sept. 7, 1957 3 SheetsSheet l Dec. 10, 1940. wWILLIAMS 2,224,462

WRINGER MOP Filed Sept. 7., 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1Q, 1940. w EWILUAMS 2,224,462

WRINGER MOP Filed Sept. '7, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 10, 1940I PAT ENT OFFICE 2,224,462 WBINGER MOP William Erastus Williams, LosAngeles, Calif., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Levant 0..

Rogers, Niles, Mich.

Application September 7, 1937', Serial No. 162,712

3 Claims.

My invention relates to mops and cleaners of the type that have anabsorbent fluid carrying cleaning element that contacts the surface tobe cleansed, and this element held in a wooden or metal backing butpreferable the metal and with this there is associated a wringingmechanism mounted permanently in the assembly of the device.

This invention is chiefly associated with a lo sponge of rubber or of asynthetic construction or'any other highly absorbent cleaning elementfor the purpose desired.

The objects of the invention are primarily in the means and methods ofsecuring the absorbent cleaning element into the backing together with aspecial wringing mechanism adapted 'to be highly convenient for use andeflicient in pressing out the absorbed water after any stage of use andthus put the absorbent cleaning element in condition to more readilytake up the water or fluids from thesurface being cleaned after thefrictional scrubbing work has been accomplished.

The further object of the invention is to provide especial handy andserviceable means for fastening and releasing the cleaning element toand from the assembly of the device.

A further object of the invention is the form and construction of theparts arranged to give sufficient strength and yet be of light weightfor handling a feature of especial merit for this type of cleaner whenit is used on vertical walls and windows.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement of the wringer thatpermits the wringing to be accomplished with little labor and muchconvenience.

Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the assembled mop. Fig. 1A is a perspective view ofan angle member of the frame. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the wringer in position of completionof a wringing operation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the channelmetal backing for the cleaning element. Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof-a block of sponge which forms the absorbent cleaning element hereshown in these drawings. However any suitable absorbent cleaning elementmay be used for this service. Fig. 6 is an end view of what is shown inFig. 5 after the block of sponge has been treated as later described.Fig. '7 indicates the first step in assembling the sponge cleaningelement into the backing channel holder. Fig. 8 is an end view of thesponge cleaning element completely assembled into the backing.

Fig. 9 is a front-elevation in the direction of 9-9 of Fig. 13 of partsof a modified form of wringer. Fig. 10 is an .end sectional view ofanother modified form of wringer. Fig. 11 shows the wringer of Fig. 10in position 01 completion of a wringing operation. Fig. 12 is an endsectional view of the modified form of Fig. 9. Fig. 13 indicates an endsectional view showing the completion of a wringing operation of theform indicated by Figs. 9, 12 and 13.

- In describing wringing operations of mechanisms such as the typeherein shown, it is common to use the word squeeze of squeezing out thewater or fluid from the mop or cleaner by rollers.

A rubber or synthetic sponge of cellulose such as is preferred to beused in this type of mop, serves well as a broom or cleaner to take updust or tobacco ashes from floor or rugs when the sponge is dry orslightly moist and thus the words mop, cleaner or broom may apply tothis device. Hereinafter the word mop will be used designating the unitas a whole and the words cleaning element for the absorbent unit, andthe word channel to indicate the sponge cleaning element backing.

The most important single item of a mop of this class is the spongecleaning element and this is the only element that wears out in normaluse. The wear results in shortening the depth of the element and thusthere is economy in providing a backing channel of a short depthallowing as much as possible of the cleaning element to extend outbeyond the channel into the wear region.

A synthetic sponge of cellulose is now available for mops and is highlydesirable for this purpose as itwill absorb a larger quantity of wateror mopping or cleaning fluid than a rubber sponge available at thistime. However this synthetic sponge is not as strong to resist tearingand further it dries out to a stage of dryness when it loses almostentirely its elasticity which revives abundantly when the sponge is wet.

To hold this synthetic sponge cleaning element securely to the channelin all stages of use for a mop and also to consume as little of theelement as conveniently possible in the backing channel, 0 I use aspecial method to bring about these desired results.

The block is cut to the size as desired as shown in Fig. 5 where in thevertical height I is shorter than the top width 2. To strengthen theside vertical walls I, I reinforce these sides with a fabric or membranesheets 3 cemented thereto with suitable cement which is allowed to fullyand finally set while the sponge is dry.

After these reinforcing sheets are firmly secured to the sponge, I thenapply to the top 2 a cement coating 4 which is absorbed by the sponge todesired depth indicated by the shading at the top of Fig. 6. When thiscement coating is only partly set and while yet in a plastic state thesponge is wetted and made highly elastic and then the surplus water ispushed or squeezed out and then the top surface 2 is compressed acrossits width and pressed into the open metal channel 3, see Fig. 7. Thiscompression amounts to confining the top surface of the sponge orcleaning element to about one third its width and this results inconcentrating the cement and fibers of the element to a somewhat compactmass of the sponge fibers and cement with an excess of cement going intocontact with metal of the channel 5. The channel 5 is provided withinturned flanges 6, which when closed finally on the cleaning elementassume an upwardly inwardly inclined position simulating hooks holdingthe cleaning element in place as shown in Fig. 4 in which shape thechannel is indicated by I. v

The channel with the sponge cleaning element inserted as shown by Fig. 7is at once after insertion and before further setting of the cementtakes place, placed into a special machine and closed onto the cleaningelement as indicated in Fig. 8, thus completing that element of the mop.In the form of Fig. 8 the channel and its attached sponge is allowed torest until the cement has finally set. It is desirable with some typesof cement to wet the sponge and squeeze out the surplus water and thenapply the top coating of the cement. The cement used must when setbecome waterproof- There are various kinds of such cement. OrdinaryPortland hydraulic cement can be used. This will be made into a grout tobe more easily absorbed by the sponge. Melted sulphur may be used whenproper arrangements are made to handle it in association with the spongeand the channel.

This method makes a secure fastening and the channel becomes a permanentassociate with the cleaning element and is discarded with it when thecleaning element is worn down beyond further use.

What is termed the frame of the mop is composed of a 2 bar 8supplemented byan angle section 9 having end fianges l together with anattached flanged piece attached to the horizontal leg of the angle 9.The fianges III are provided with bearing apertures l2. see Fig. 1A, andapertures 49. The angle section 9 is permanently attached by rivets orspot welds to the 2 bar 8 and thus those pieces become a sin le unit towhich the channel I is detachably fastened to the Z bar by four brassscrews l3. The 2 bar has its lower horizontal fiange located in positionto act as an abutment plate l4. see Fig. 3.

The lower apertures 49 of the flanges I 0 of the angle section 9 supportan axle l of an idle roller l6. This roller is made in three sections onthe axle l5. Diagonal braces I! extend from the axle l5 and are fixed tothe mop handle l8 which is also fixed to the before mentioned attachedflange II by a slot in the end of the handle extending over the flangeII and secured thereto by bolts thru the handle and the fiange.

The upper apertures i2 of angle section 9 have mounted therein a shaftI9 on which are carried two hand lever arms 20. The upper ends of thesearms are connected across by a hand hold roller 2| thus forming a ballby means of which the arms are rocked from position of Fig. l'toposition of Fig. 3 in the wringing operation. On the forward end of thelever arms there is an axle rod 22 on which are mounted segments of awringer roller 23 at the front of. the mop. Thus by the rocking of theball of the lever arms 20 the cleaning element is compressed and wrungout by the path of travelof the wringer roller 23 passing across andunder the cleaning element as indicated by Fig. 3.-

The greatest strair to tear the cleaning element is at the neck justbelow the channel I and this is in the region which is reinforced by thefabric 3, a great desideratum.

Figures 10 and 11 show a modified form wherein the Z bar 8 is wantingand its place is supplied by a short channel 24 to which the mop handlehere shown is indicated by 25 is permanently fixed. The channel 24 isdetachably fixed by screws 26 to the channel I of the mop brush.

A cross bar 21 is fixed by a clamp 28 on the mop handle 25 and isprovided with downwardly extending ends 29 in which there are bearingapertures-carrying supporting pins 3| which act as hinge pins on whichare mounted two hand levers 32 connected across at their upper ends byhand hold roller 33 thus making a ball by which the lever arms areoperated. The cross bar 21 is also shown in front view in Fig. 9.

Hinged at 34 in the lower ends of levers 32 there are U shaped bars 35which carry at their ends axle rods 36 and 31 on which are mounted insections rollers 38 and 39. The rollers 38 and 39 are moved downward incompressing the cleaning element by the bail handle levers 32 fromposition of Fig. 10 to that Fig. 11 in the function of wringing the mopsponge.

When a mop is made having a greater width of cleaning element than thoseindicated in these drawings which then will require a wider backing orchannel for holding the cleaning element in place of the channel I hereshown it will then be desirable in the 'use of double wringer rollers toprovide means to bring the roller closer to- .gether from their upwardposition of repose in which are carried axle rods on which are mountedin sections wringer rollers 44. On the upper ends of levers 43 there aremounted grooved disc rollers 45 which contact vertically arranged camprojections 46 having cam tracks on their opposite edges which arecloser together at the top and wider lower down and thus act as thewringer rollers are pushed down over the cleaning element to bring therollers closer together for greater compression in wringing the cleaningelement. This is observed by Figures 12 and 13. To prevent U bars 4|from rocking and thus allow the wringer roller on one side to go downfaster than its companion roller on the other side or rather a littleahead of it on account of the rocking, there are provided strut bars 4'!hinged at their upper ends to the levers 32 by the pins 50 and the lowerends of the bars 41 are slotted over the axles of the wringer rollershaving the bottoms of the slots with a slight clearance above the axlesof the wringer rollers allowing a little rocking.

In all the forms shown by the figures of the drawings herein, when thewringer rollers are in upward position and in repose during the moppingservice, the backward and forward movement of the cleaning elementsometimes causes a slight vibration of the bail hand roller 2! to andfrom the contact with the mop handle. To dampen this vibration there isprovided a clasp 48 of any suitable construction which holds the slightfrictional contact with the hand roller 2| keeping it from vibrating.

The form of wringer indicated by Figures 1 to 3 inclusive wherein thereis a bending over as well asa squeezing pressure squeezes out moremoisture than the forms of Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive. The bulge of thecleaning element indicated by 40 Fig. 11 produces a pull back ofmoisture as the wringer rollers pass over the cleaning element.

The idle roller l6 of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, protect against damagingcontact by the edge of abutment flange M of 2 bar 8 when a back strokeis made against the inside of a furniture leg. This roller I6 is also aprotection against the edge of the said flange l4 scraping the floor ona back stroke of the mop when mopping under furniture which is so closeto the floor as to cause the mop handle to be lowered almost to thefloor. The roller will ride over a tack or a piece of glass while theedge of flange I will draw those articles along on the floor andsometimes make scratches on the floor. The roller avoids this.

The U shaped bars 35 of forms of Figs. 10 and 11 in combination with thehand operated levers 32 make a light weight efficient mechanism forwringing the cleaning element.

The two arms 32 and also the two arms 20 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 connectedacross by the hand hold rollers thus associated make a bail which is aconvenient mechanism for use and a light weight and low cost mechanism.

The method of reinforcing the cleaning element sides by fabric cementedthereto serves a double purpose. First it makes a stronger connection ofthe cleaning element to the'backing or holder by connecting a largernumber of fibers of the cleaning element to the backing, which is agreat desideratum. Further the best service of such an absorbentmaterial ina mop or cleaner in use is to discharge its load of fluiddirectly downward out the lower regions or contact area of the surfaceto be cleaned where the scraping pressure there becomes as it were awater pressure to move the dirt. Then on the pickup of the dirty fluidon the surface cleaned this is taken up only by the bottom of thecleaning element. Thus the substantially impervious, flexible walls ofreinforcing fabric confine the flow of the fluids more or less within upand down paths to and from direct contacts with the surfaces beingcleaned and restrict the cross paths from the absorbent element, whichis a great desideratum.

The cement used for securing the fabric to the cleaning element must bewaterproof and at the same time flexible after setting which is the casewith the cement I use for this purpose.

Sponge such as rubber orsynthetic or natural growth is highly porous andhence not of great strength to resist tearing asunder. The surface ofsuch a cleaning element which contacts a flat or even wall of any typeof holder or backing is but a small actual area of the end walls ofporous cells and to get a cross section of the full strength of all thefibers of the cleaning element to the backing or holder-I use a cementsaturation that extends down to the bottoms and sides of cells withinthe holder and thus gets the best possible contact for holding thecleaning element to the backing.

When the cement saturated edge of the cleaning element is compressedinto the channel by the methods herein shown, there is obtained thegreatest holding strength possible between the cleaning element and thebacking and at the same time takes up the shortest amount of depth valuecontact in this fastening, which is a great desideratum.

What I claim is 1. A cleaner comprising a handle, an elongatedexpansible cleaning element, an elongated carrier mounting said cleaningelement at its upper portion, an angularly rearwardly projecting wallcarried by said carrier, an elongated wringing element, means mountingsaid wringing element parallel to said cleaning element and adjacent toand rearwardly of said wall, said handle, carrier and mounting meansbeing flx- 'edly interconnected to constitute a rigid unit wherein saidcleaning element extends transversely of the handle, a curved rigidframe pivoted to said unit on an axis parallel to said cleaning elementand including .an operating handle, a portion'of' said frame projectingforwardly of said unit, and a second elongated wringing elementJournaled on the forward portion of said frame parallel to said cleaningelement, said frame being shiftable to cause said second wringingelement to traverse the front face of said cleaning element and presssaid cleaning element against said wall with its outermost portionbearing against said first wringing element..

2. A cleaner comprising a sponge rubber cleaning element, a pair offabric sheets cemented to' opposite sides of said element, a metalchannel gripping a portion of said element with its opposite sidesbearing against said sheets, said element flaring from said channel, ahandle, means fixedly connecting said handle and channel to form a unit.and means shiftably mounted on said unit for wringing the flared-portionof said cleaning element, said last named means including at least onewringer roller traversing.

one of the faces of said element reinforced by said sheets.

3. A cleaner comprising an expansible cleaning element, a metal channelgripping a portion of said element, said element flaring from saidchannel, a handle fixedly connected with said channel to form a rigidunit therewith, means shiftably carried by said unit for wringing theflared portion of said cleaning element and including at least onewringing element traversing a face of the flared portion of saidelement, and a reinforcing sheet cemented to the face of said cleaningelement traversed by said wringing element, said sheet covering theportion of said face gripped by said channel.

WILLIAM ERASTUS WILLIAMS.

